Chapter 30: The Fracture of the Mind

"Dr. Ye?" Bai Lu called out, "Oh, Dr. Ye, put me down! I still need to help my sister clear things up!"

Ye Jingyan snapped, "You're still defending that Shen woman! Bai Xiaolu, are you out of your mind?"

"No, I really lied and slandered—"

Yu Fuqing stepped in front of Ye Jingyan. "Let her go."

Ye Jingyan spat, "Get the hell out of here, damn it."

Bai Lu: "..."

She had almost forgotten—Ye Jingyan, that blockhead, had quite a temper.

Bai Lu patted his shoulder lightly, "Dr. Ye, don't be angry, okay? Just put me down first, would you?"

Ye Jingyan was always helpless against her coquettishness. Scowling, he set her down, his eyes red-rimmed.

Director Zhang, the assistant director, Sister Hua... everyone in the crew.

Their eyes were all red.

Bai Lu felt a sting at the tip of her nose, her heart twisting like a knife.

Insults, slander, venom, humiliation—none of that would ever break her, or draw a single tear.

But the tears of those around her could so easily shatter all her defenses.

Fighting to keep her voice steady, Bai Lu said, "I'm really fine, truly. Please, stop worrying about me."

"You silly girl," Sister Hua scolded, "You know how to care for others—why don't you know how to care for yourself?"

Bai Lu smiled sweetly. "Because I have all of you to care for me."

In the live stream: "Crying my eyes out, please do not disturb."

And then the live stream was cut, the screen went black.

Netizens were dumbfounded: "?????"

But the media at the scene saw everything clearly.

Projected on the wall:

Yu Fuqing gripped Shen Xinluo's waist with one hand, fiercely squeezing her chest with the other. The two were locked in a passionate kiss, inseparable.

Yu Fuqing pinned Shen Xinluo to the bed; her arm stretched out.

Then the image wobbled, pointing at the ceiling.

There was no sound, but it was easy to imagine what happened next.

Shen Xinluo sat there, vacant, her face utterly blank—as if the blow had been so great, her mind no longer quite right.

Yu Fuqing's face had gone green, and he glared murderously at the assistant director.

The assistant director shook his head frantically. "Director Yu, this has nothing to do with me! I was just casting from my phone—this is the built-in projection system in the conference room!"

The instant Yu Fuqing and Shen Xinluo appeared, Ye Jingyan had quickly covered Bai Lu's eyes. "Kids shouldn't watch this."

Bai Lu: "..."

I was the one who edited the video; it's a bit late to be covering my eyes now.

After a rapid fast-forward, Yu Fuqing's face reappeared on the screen, the image shook, and then Bai Lu's face appeared.

She was clearly smiling sweetly at the camera, her lips moving—who knows what she was saying.

Then the screen went completely black.

Altogether, it lasted barely a dozen seconds.

"The bunny plush!" Yu Fuqing snarled, "It was that bunny plush! Bai Lu, you set me up?!"

"Young Master Yu!" Sister Hua's face was dark. "The bunny plush was a gift from the staff for Xiaolu. I was the one who collected all the gifts and put them in her room. She didn't set you up—she was the one secretly filmed by a pervert!"

Director Zhang forced out two words between his teeth, "Call the police!"

Ye Jingyan ground his teeth. "Find out who did this, I'll have them sliced to pieces."

Bai Lu was startled. "Ye Jingyan, murder is illegal."

Ye Jingyan's gaze was icy. "Don't worry—a thousand cuts, not one less. I'll keep them alive."

Bai Lu: "..."

That’s even scarier, you know!

What was supposed to be a simple wrap-party promo had become an endless stream of shocking revelations.

Compared to that, the late-night video of Young Master Yu and Shen Xinluo seemed utterly dull.

At least, the focus of everyone present was not on the two of them sneaking around at night, but on the bunny plush that had been given to Bai Lu as a gift.

Yu Fuqing pleaded, "Xiaolu, listen to your brother Fuqing explain—"

Bai Lu didn't even look at him. She lifted her head and asked Ye Jingyan, "Why are you here?"

Ye Jingyan had just opened his mouth when someone called from outside the door.

"Ye Jingyan, your half hour is up."

"Fairy Prince!" Bai Lu could recognize him just from the voice.

She looked back; there was only a retreating figure at the door.

But she knew, without a doubt, it was her Fairy Prince.

"Don't block the way!" She shoved past Ye Jingyan and Yu Fuqing and dashed after him. "Fairy Prince, wait for me!"

Yu Fuqing tried to follow but was blocked by Ye Jingyan.

"I saw the live stream," Ye Jingyan said. "You want to pursue Bai Lu? Look at yourself in the mirror. Keys, three for ten bucks—how many do you think you're worth?"

Yu Fuqing stared, the name Ye Jingyan echoing in his mind. Suddenly, his expression changed. "Ye Songqian is your grandfather!"

"Don't let me hear that name from your mouth. You're not worthy." Ye Jingyan's voice was cold and sharp. "Just this—stay away from Bai Lu, or bear the consequences."

Recognizing who he was dealing with, Yu Fuqing didn't dare speak.

Ye Jingyan nodded to Director Zhang, a smile on his face. "You really let loose just now. Thanks for standing up for our silly deer."

Director Zhang was stunned. "And you are—?"

Ye Jingyan tossed out two words as he left: "Deer fan."

Director Zhang: "A fan? You must be joking—this is a private resort, outsiders can't get in! Who exactly are you?"

"Truly a deer fan," Ye Jingyan replied. "This private resort belongs to a friend of mine."

"Rubbish!" Director Zhang exploded. "This is the richest man's private resort!"

Ye Jingyan only smiled, said nothing, and walked away.

Director Zhang rolled up his sleeves. "Hey, I've got a temper, you know. You stop right there!"

Yu Fuqing forced a sentence through clenched teeth. "He wasn't lying. Ye Jingyan's grandfather is the private doctor of Huo Yanfang, the richest man. The Ye and Huo families go back generations."

"...Wow," Director Zhang blinked. "Little Deer really is something—having such an impressive fan."

Then he slapped his forehead. "I knew it! The richest man's private hospital agreed so easily to treat her and even sent a helicopter to pick her up. So that's why!"

---

"Fairy Prince, wait for me!" Bai Lu chased all the way to the rooftop and finally caught up with her Fairy Prince.

A helicopter stood waiting on the helipad.

"Fairy Prince, why are you avoiding me?" Bai Lu tilted her head, and then, catching sight of Tang Xing out of the corner of her eye, her face lit up. "Ah, the refined scoundrel, the wolf in sheep’s clothing! That’s a popular trope these days! Handsome, you want to debut? I’ll be your sponsor! We’ll make a fortune!"

Tang Xing: "???"

Huo Yanfang’s lips curled slightly. "Bai Lu, do you want to sponsor everyone you meet?"

Bai Lu was utterly serious. "Not everyone. Only good-looking people. You, you’re good-looking. Him, he’s passable."

Tang Xing, who was apparently just passable: "…"

Huo Yanfang lifted his chin toward someone behind her.

Bai Lu turned and saw Ye Jingyan, her features all resistance and displeasure. "Not him. He cries at the drop of a hat, can’t handle pressure. That kind of person can’t be a star. A few negative comments and he’d fall apart."

Tang Xing couldn’t help but laugh.

The girl knew Ye Jingyan all too well.

Indeed, Ye Jingyan had spent the entire trip here clutching his phone and crying.

He’d made President Huo so annoyed he nearly tossed him out of the helicopter.